CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
15 November 2004
Product News
GibbsCAM 2004+ Shipping to Customers-Release Provides Enhanced Visualization, and New TMS and Machine Simulation Modules
Gibbs and Associates , developer of GibbsCAM®, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software for programming computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, announced today that GibbsCAM 2004+ is now shipping to customers. Enhanced process simulation capabilities have been added to GibbsCAM providing dynamic view orientation, the ability to export STL model of work-in-process stock for reuse, and comparison between in-process stock and finished part. This release also officially introduces the new GibbsCAM TMS (Tombstone Management System) module which significantly improves the efficiency of programming tombstone fixtured parts. In conjunction with TMS, a new Machine Simulation option is also offered to allow program motions to be validated against machine tool models to identify potential problems reducing the need for dry-runs on the shop floor.
"GibbsCAM led the CAM industry with its innovative Cut Part Rendering," commented Bill Gibbs, president and founder of Gibbs and Associates. "This latest release provides additional visualization capabilities allowing users to better evaluate their program before sending it to the machine tool where mistakes can result in expensive scrap or lost machine time."
The enhanced Cut Part Rendering process visualization capability introduces a number of significant improvements, such as dynamic view orientation without requiring the image to be regenerated, control of various scene aspects like lighting orientation, material colors and background, and transparent stock display. It also supports comparing work-in-process stock against the part to identify uncut areas. The work-in-process stock can also be saved to be used as the starting point for subsequent Cut Part Rendering simulations.
"The Tombstone Management System was originally developed for Haas Automation," stated Mr. Gibbs. "This is an example where working with one of our customers we developed functionality to address their specific needs. We were then able to generalize that capability and provide it to all GibbsCAM customers."
GibbsCAM TMS streamlines the programming of multiple parts on tombstone fixtures automatically generating the offsets and rotations necessary to support a variety of part layouts and machining strategies. Using TMS, the programmer defines the placement of parts on tombstones along with master part programs and the system then instantiates and offsets the programs for all similar parts on the tombstone.
GibbsCAM 2004+ also introduces a new Machine Simulation capability that allows part program motion to be validated offline minimizing or eliminating the time spent validating the program on a machine tool. Using the Machine Simulation option, an exact model of the machine tool is built and is setup with fixturing and tooling in the same way the real machine tool would be configured on the shop floor. The machine tool motion as determined by the CNC program can then be validated to ensure that collisions do not occur.
In addition to the numerous improvements across all modules, GibbsCAM 2004+ also ensures compatibility with the latest versions from mainstream, PC-based CAD vendors, such as Autodesk Inventor R9, SolidWorks 2005, and Solid Edge 16, as well as integrated MCAE systems, such as Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2, CATIA V4 and CATIA V5.
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